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Emirates Airlines makes record order for Boeing 777

Emirates Airlines announced an order Sunday at the Dubai Airshow for 50 Boeing 777-300 ERs, in addition to a previous order for 20. The combined order is the largest dollar-value order in Boeing's history.

AFP - Emirates Airlines launched Dubai Airshow on Sunday with a record $18-billion order for 50 Boeing 777s, giving the US company a flying start on its European rival Airbus at the prestigious event.

The United Arab Emirates meanwhile appeared to raise the stakes in its negotiations with France to buy Rafale fighter jets after Eurofighter said the Gulf state has invited it to make a counter offer.

Boeing's European rival, Airbus, is meanwhile expected to receive a new order from Qatar Airways, according to industry sources.

But the Dubai-based Emirates ensured the biennial aviation gathering kicked off with fanfare, announcing the order for 50 Boeing 777-300ERs in a deal that brings the long-haul carrier's order list to 90.

In addition to its orders from Boeing, Emirates has 73 Airbus A380 superjumbos on order, as well as 70 Airbus A350s.

The carrier is the largest single customer of Airbus' long-haul airliner A380 with a purchase list of 90 units.

Meanwhile, the UAE made another surprise as the show opened after the European consortium producing Eurofighter Typhoon jets announced a request by the UAE to make a counter offer to France's Rafale.

The Gulf state which is in the final stages of talks with France on the sale of the Rafale fighter jet asked Britain, which uses the Eurofighter, to provide it with information about the aircraft capacity, and that a briefing took place on October 17, according to a statement by the consortium.

"We have subsequently received a request for proposal for the potential supply of Typhoon," Eurofighter said of its fighter jet in a statement, adding, "We are now working hard to deliver a response."

French Defence Minister Gerard Longuet said last month that Paris was in the final stages of negotiations on the Gulf state purchasing Rafale fighter jets, the pride of France's Dassault Aviation.

Both the Rafale and the Typhoon were recently involved in combat action over Libya, flown respectively by the French air force and navy and the British Royal Air Force.

The types are also in the final stage of a massive contest to meet India’s 126-unit medium multi-role combat aircraft requirement. Final bids were opened early this month, with a selection decision possible within the next few weeks.

Dassault is seeking a first export buyer for its "omnirole" Rafale, while the four-nation Eurofighter consortium is hoping to build on a customer base which also includes partner nations Germany, Italy and Spain and additional users Austria and Saudi Arabia.